Magnetic holder for display cards



June 19, 1951 TEETQR 2,557,398

MAGNETIC HOLDER FOR DISPLAY CARDS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 FIG. I

l/////// g I I H4 l6 "l7 INVENTOR. Macy 0.Teefor BY $04G) I .IM

Afforne Patented June 19, 1951 I UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETICHOLDER FOR DISPLAY CARDS Macy 0. Teetor, New Castle, Ind. ApplicationDecember 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,106

This invention relates to a holding device for display cards and thelike and more particularly to a holding device that is adapted to retaindisplay cards or the like in a vertical or slightly angular displayposition by magnetic means.

Heretofore, there have been employed various means or structures forholding display cards and the like in vertical position which eitherwere more or less makeshift in character or of an elaborate nature.Those of the makeshirt type comprisedL unsightly wood blocks, heavyweights, or, other miscellaneous objects not specifically designed forsuch purposes and wholly unsuited for window display purposes. Thedisplay card holders of v the more elaborate type, however, comprisedrelatively large ornamental frames and structures, and while suchelaborate holders performed their intended function with some degree ofsatisfaction, their size, specialized structural natures and expensenevertheless rendered them commercially undesirable.

It therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improvedholding device for display cards and the like that is adapted to supportsuch articles in proper display position by magnetic means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved supportingmeans for display cards and the like that is relatively small in size,of inexpensive and simplified construction and at the same time hassubstantially universal application to display cards of all shapes,sizes and dimensions.

A further object is to provide a holder for display cards and the likeby which such articles may be readily placed in approximately verticaldisplay position and supported therein against inadvertent displacement.

- Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent as thedescription progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a card holding device comprising apreferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrated inoperable card supporting position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of one of the magnetic holding unitscomprising an element of the improved card holding device; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the card and a magnetic holdingunit as viewed from the right in Fig. 1.

Generally, the display card holding device illustrated in theaccompanying drawing comprises a pair of magnetic supporting units I andII 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-10) that are carried on a fiat metal plate I2 andbetween which a card I3 may be supported in proper vertical position fordisplay purposes. The fiat metal plate I2 which may be composed of ametal having a high magnetic attraction, has a thin felt pad I4 securedon its under side to prevent injury to any surface upon which theimproved display card holder may be placed. The metal plate I2 isrectangular in shape and is of sufficient breadth and width to preventany rocking or tilting movement in any direction which might resultunder the influence of large or topheavy cards or as a result of aninadvertent striking of the card.

The holding units I 0 and I I may be of identical construction and eachcomprises a solid one quarter sphere or body portion I6 composed ofplastic or other suitable material into which has been molded apermanent U magnet I I. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawing,

the magnet I! is disposed crosswise of the one quarter sphere IS inspaced and substantially parallel relationship to the vertical facethereof and its north and south pole faces project to and are flush withthe bottom surface thereof where they are exposed for intimateengagement with the upper surface of the metal plate I2. The bottomsurface of each one quarter sphere I 6 is fiat from edge to edge andtogether with the fiat exposed pole faces of each magnet I1 present flatbearing surfaces which permit a wide overall bearing contact between theholding units I6 and II and the flat surface of the metal plate I2, andhence a close intimate engagement between the pole faces of the magnetI1 and the plate I2 to insure the maximum degree of magnetic attraction.

Secured to the vertical faces of each one quarter sphere I6 by cement orother suitable means is a thin fiat plate I8 which also may be composedof plastic or other suitable material. The lower edge of each plate I8is flush with the lower surface of each one quarter sphere I6 so as tofacilitate the intimate bearing contact between the units I I] and IIand. the flat plate I2. As shown in Fig. 1, the vertical faces of theone quarter spheres I6 are disposed at right angles to the metal plateI2 so that the plastic plates I8, when secured to those faces, will alsoassume vertical positions at right angles to the metal plate 52. As aresult, the outer faces of the plastic plates I8, when placed in opposedrelation as shown in Fig. 1, are parallel with respect to each otherfrom top to bottom and from side to side so as to be equidistant at allpoints and capable of firmly holding a card I3 in intimate engagementtherebetween without the formation of any angular space which would tendto permit rocking or tilting of the card I3. Should the vertical face ofone of the one quarter spheres I6 be disposed out of the perpendicularwith respect to the plate I2, the vertical face of the other one quartersphere may be formed at a complemental angle so that when the plasticplates I8 are secured thereto, their opposed vertical faces, while eachis disposed out of the perpendicular, nevertheless are parallel to eachother and capable of holding the card I3 firmly therebetween as abovedescribed.

The plastic plates I8 are substantially rectangular in shape and are ofsufficient height and width to be considerably larger in area than thevertical faces of the one quarter spheres I6 and to present a largerbearing surface for supporting engagement with the display card I3.

When it is desired to mount a card I3 in a store window, for instance,for display purposes, the metal plate I2 may first be placed in properposition on the horizontal surface of the display area. Then, themagnetic holding unit I may be placed with its bottom surface inengagement with the metal plate I2 at a point centrally located withrespect to the side edges thereof but slightly to the rear of thetransverse center line thereof. The supporting unit It! will be retainedthereafter in the foregoing position because of the magnetic attractionthat is set up between the exposed pole faces of the magnet I1 and themetal plate I2, and it will resist thereafter any inadvertentapplication of moderate force tending toward displacement thereof. Thedisplay card I3 may then be placed in upright position With its loweredge resting on the plate I2 and with one of its sides against thevertical face of the plate I8"'of the unit It], after which the unit Ilmay finally be brought against the card I3 with its lower surface alsoin intimate engagement with the plate I2 and moved into opposedrelationship with respect to the unit II! so that the card 53 is firmlyheld in proper vertical position between the two plastic plates I8. Inthis final assembled position shown in Fig. 1, the units Id and I I aredefinitely and securely held by magnetic attraction down in position onthe plate I2 against inadvertent horizontal and vertical movement andserve to maintain the card I3 in proper displayposition at all timesagainst the natural tendency of the card I3 to tip forwardly orbackwardly.

It is apparent that the improved card holding device described above notonly serves to properly hold a display card in proper upright positionat all times, but also possesses other inherent advantages. The onequarter spheres It with the magnets I'I molded therein and their plasticplates I8 may be readily and inexpensively produced in a Wide variety ofattractive colors and assembled together with a minimum of laborrequirements. Also, while the units Ill and II possess relatively greatholding power through the attraction of their magnets 11 for the metalplate I2, they nevertheless are light in weight, as is the thin metalplate I-2, so as to permit effortless handling thereof as contrastedwith lead, glass or other types of Weights that have heretofore beenemployed. Ease of handling also arises from the fact that units In and II are capable of retaining themselves on the metal plate I2 duringtransportation thereof, thus eliminating the difficulty of carrying agroup of disassembled elements and the danger of loss or separation ofthe elements during periods of non-use. It is also apparent that themetal plate I2 serves as a keeper for the magnet I! at all times duringperiods of use and non-use so as to greatly lengthen the eificientoperable life of the magnetic units I0 and II.

Further, the card holding spheres, because of their magnetic attractionfor the metal plate, are capable of effectively clamping in uprightdisplay position cards of any thickness or any number of cards, such asan entire card file which may be temporarily removed from a card draweror file.

Although there has been shown in the drawing and described above onepreferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent thatvariations and modifications may be made without departing from theunderlying principles of the invention. For instance, it is apparentthat a rigid vertical plate permanently secured to the metal plate I2,or some other abutting member, could be substituted for the magneticunit I0, so that the card I 3 could be held in vertical position betweensuch a plate or member and the magnetic unit I I. It is intended,therefore, by the following claims to include within the scope of theinvention all variations and modifications by which the results of theinvention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same orequivalent means.

I claim:

1. A holding device for supporting a display card or the like insubstantially vertical position comprising a flat magnetic metal plateand a plurality of supporting units adapted to be carried by andretained in position on the surface of said plate by magnetic attractionand to maintain a card or the like in substantially vertical positiontherebetween, each of said units comprising a body portion having a fiatsubstantially vertical face and a substantially flat .bot-.

' porting a card or the like. 7

2. A holding device for supporting a display card or the like in uprightposition comprising a fiat magnetic metal plate and a plurality ofsupporting units adapted to be carried by and retained in position onthe surface of said plate by magnetic attraction and to support a cardor the like therebetween, each of said units comprising a body portionhaving a magnet at its lower portion with its magnetic poles spacedapart in a plane parallel with said metal plate and adapted tomagnetically attract said metal plate, and a flat upright bearing membersecured to said body portion and adapted to bear against a card or thelike for support thereof, said bearing member being of substantiallygreater extent than said body portion Whereby to provide an enlargedbearing area for intimately contacting and firmly retaining a card orthe like.

3. A holding device for supporting a display card or the like insubstantially vertical position comprising a flat magnetic metal plateand a plurality of supporting units adapted to be carried by andretained in position on the surface of said plate by magnetic attractionand to maintain a card or the like in substantially vertical positiontherebetween, each of said units comprising a body portion having a flatsubstantially vertical face and a substantially flat bottom face forengagement with said metal plate, a magnet at the bottom of said bodyportion having it magnetic poles spaced apart in exposed fiushrelationship with said bottom face, and a flat surfaced outwardlyextending bearing plate secured to the vertical face of said bodyportion for bearing engagement against a card or the like for supportthereof, said bearing plate having substantially greater lateraldimensions than said vertical face of said body portion whereby toprovide an enlarged bearing area for engaging and supporting a card orthe REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,931 Westcott Aug. 17, 18091,624,741 Leppke et a1. Apr. 12, 1927 15 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 8,624 Great Britain May 24, 1889 428,287 Great Britain May 7, 1935

